Xiao Ying

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Ying (萧莹)
Alias(es)	Ying'er; “Celestial Maiden” among the mortals aided during her travels with Zhou Yang 184
Gender	Female
Spiritual Root	High-grade wood–fire dual spiritual root, with wood affinity stronger than fire 181 183
Affiliation	Zhou Family; Chongxuan Mountain
Occupation/Role	Alchemist, Spirit Planter, healer, instructor, and Zhou Yang's Dao Companion
Status	Alive 874
First Appearance	Chapter 180
Dao Companion	Zhou Yang 202
Disciple	Ye Yunshan 592 593
Child	Zhou Guangcheng 618 621

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Foundation Establishment	181	Had established her foundation shortly before her master's death; she was thirty years old and already a Tier 2 High-grade Alchemist and Spirit Planter.
Foundation Establishment Layer 2	201	Her aura is concealed during the burial of her master's ashes.
Foundation Establishment Layer 9	361	Reached the peak of Foundation Establishment while cultivating at the Xuan Yang Immortal Sect.
Purple Mansion Stage	362	Opened her Violet Palace smoothly at age 113 with Violet Heart Jade Marrow.
Golden Core Stage	588	Formed her Golden Core at Chongxuan Mountain; the breakthrough produced a Heavenly Rain phenomenon.
Golden Core Stage Layer 3	622	Advanced rapidly through cultivation, dual cultivation, and Zhou Yang's cleansing of pill toxins.
Golden Core Stage Layer 9	709	Reached the final Golden Core layer after refining a Star Moon Osmanthus Tree branch.
Nascent Soul Stage	767	Successfully formed her Nascent Soul after twenty-two years of seclusion, extending her lifespan to 3,000 years.

Background

Xiao Ying was raised in seclusion on Dan Yun Peak after her master discovered her High-grade Spiritual Root. Shielded from the outside world and trained in alchemy and Spirit Planting, she understood the cultivation world's cruelty only in theory. Her master had previously expelled the first disciple, Tian Feng, after discovering his immoral dealings with other rogue cultivators. After the master's death, Tian Feng returned with accomplices to seize the alchemy inheritance, relics, and Xiao Ying herself. 180 181

Cornered behind Dan Yun Peak's formation, Xiao Ying considered destroying her master's belongings and taking her own life rather than submit. She initially surrendered the relics to protect herself, only for Tian Feng's group to reveal that they intended to break the formation and seize her anyway. Zhou Yang intervened, killed the attackers, and was poisoned by Tian Feng's Netherworld Bone Erosion Needle. Xiao Ying sheltered him in her cave dwelling, supplied the Snow Lotus Plague Clearing Pill, and cared for him through his recovery. 180 181

After Zhou Yang recovered, Xiao Ying told him about her upbringing and expressed a wish to leave sorrowful Dan Yun Peak and see the wider cultivation world. She accepted his invitation to join the Zhou Family out of gratitude, on three conditions: she would not be forced into fighting, Zhou Yang would help bury her master's ashes in the master's homeland, and he would address her as Ying'er or Xiao Ying. 182 183

Xiao Ying left Dan Yun Peak after harvesting its mature Spiritual Medicine and sealing the cave dwelling. She later buried her master's ashes in a secluded valley near the master's former homeland, resolving her last attachment to the Flowing Cloud Continent. 183 201

Appearance

Xiao Ying is noted for exceptional beauty, a well-proportioned figure, and a serene, elegant bearing likened to an orchid growing in a secluded valley. 182

• Possesses a gentle and refined demeanor rather than a forceful martial presence. 182
• Often blushes or lowers her head when embarrassed, particularly in intimate situations with Zhou Yang. 182 189
• Wore a veil while receiving Chongxuan Mountain's registered disciples to avoid exposing Zhou Yang's identity. 586

Personality

Initially, Xiao Ying is sheltered, trusting, and inexperienced in conflict. Having spent most of her life protected on Dan Yun Peak, she nearly accepted Tian Feng's manipulations before witnessing his betrayal firsthand. That experience made her more aware of the cultivation world's dangers, but did not erase her fundamentally gentle nature. 180 181

She dislikes fighting and killing, lacks confidence in combat, and prefers a quiet life of planting herbs, refining pills, and cultivating on a mountain. Her compassion is practical rather than passive: she treats the wounded, teaches disciples patiently, advocates restraint when Zhou Yang is angry, and accepts responsibility for protecting others through her healing arts. 183 361 586 598

Xiao Ying is deeply grateful and loyal. Her decision to follow Zhou Yang began as repayment for saving her life, but developed into a lasting marriage founded on trust. She is emotionally dependent on him during long separations and worries intensely over his safety, yet she repeatedly supports his cultivation, family duties, and difficult decisions. 183 255 393 552

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Xiao Ying is an exceptional alchemist whose advancement makes her one of the Zhou Family's most valuable members.

Alchemy Rank	Chapter	Accomplishment
Tier 2 High-grade Alchemist	181	Already attained by age thirty.
Tier 3 Low-grade Alchemist	194	Achieved after converting to the True Scripture of Qinghua's Tribulation Crossing.
Tier 3 High-grade Alchemist	303	Successfully refined three Foundation Establishment Pills.
Tier 4 High-grade Alchemist	592	Took Ye Yunshan as a personal disciple.
Attempting Tier 5	622	Began working toward a fifth-tier alchemy breakthrough.

• Refined multiple batches of Foundation Establishment Pills and Tier 4 Spirit Pills for the Zhou Family. 555
• Produced 168 Foundation Establishment Pills over three years at Chongxuan Mountain. 585
• Received extensive pill recipes, alchemy notes, Spiritual Medicine, and the Tier 4 High-grade Black Gold Hundred Treasures Furnace from Zhou Yang after opening her Violet Palace. 362
• Uses alchemy knowledge to prepare medicinal soups, detoxifying medicines, body-refining medicinal liquids, and high-rank healing pills. 181 393

Spirit Planting

Xiao Ying was a Tier 2 High-grade Spirit Planter by age thirty and later taught Spirit Planting techniques to Chongxuan Mountain's disciples. 181 586

• Cultivates and harvests Spiritual Medicine, including the herb garden she maintained on Dan Yun Peak. 183
• Shares a close, sisterly bond with Zhou Guangxiang through their mutual interest in Spirit Planting. 236
• Patiently guides disciples who struggle with Spirit Planting, encouraging them to pursue other cultivation arts if necessary. 586

True Scripture of Qinghua's Tribulation Crossing

Xiao Ying converted to the advanced wood-element True Scripture of Qinghua's Tribulation Crossing because her spiritual root and peaceful disposition suited its philosophy of “crossing tribulations and saving people.” She completed the conversion within one year. 194

• Tribulation Crossing Azure Lotus — Condenses a green lotus for comprehensive defense. 194
• Tribulation Crossing Divine Armor — Forms divine armor protecting the body's vital areas. 194
• Azure Splendor Tribulation Crossing Immortal Light — A powerful healing and life-saving art capable of treating severe injuries, dispelling poisons, and averting disasters. 373
• Azure Splendor Tribulation Crossing Divine Needle — Treats illnesses and stubborn ailments while retaining offensive potential. 373
• Profound Light of Creation of Azure Splendor's Wonderful Law — A high-level life-force art capable, at minor accomplishment, of regenerating severed limbs and saving lives in critical condition. 610 687

By later years, Xiao Ying had cultivated every supernatural ability recorded in the scripture to Great Accomplishment. 798

Healing and Support

Xiao Ying's healing is her primary combat contribution and allows her to support cultivators far stronger than herself.

• Recovered from injuries in the Cloud Severing Mountain Range through her wood-element cultivation method's exceptional healing and recovery properties. 305
• Healed the Golden Winged Thunder Eagle while sustaining Chongxuan Mountain's defensive formation during a Golden Core assault. 602
• Used the Spring Return Immortal Bottle to create Spring Return Immortal Dew, significantly healing two severely wounded Golden Core cultivators. 606
• Treated Zhou Yang's injuries during dangerous cultivation, including fire-poison damage incurred while cultivating the Azure Dragon Body Refining Art. 687
• Provides thirty drops of Spring Return Immortal Dew to the Xuan Yang Immortal Sect as part of the price for strengthening Zhou Guangcheng's innate origin. 618

Combat Limitations

Xiao Ying is not a natural combatant. She took months to learn sword flight despite Zhou Yang's direct instruction, dislikes killing, and has poor combat talent compared with her alchemy and Spirit Planting aptitude. 187

• Relies on defense, healing, formations, artifacts, and stronger allies rather than direct confrontation. 194 602
• Can employ the Azure Splendor Divine Needle offensively when necessary. 373
• Once used her Azure Lotus and Divine Armor to confront descending Heavenly Gang Divine Lightning to protect her companions. 377

Equipment

• Spring Return Immortal Bottle — Her Natal Artifact; gathers life force and produces Spring Return Immortal Dew for exceptional healing. 589 606
• Black Gold Hundred Treasures Furnace — Tier 4 High-grade alchemy furnace gifted by Zhou Yang after her Violet Palace breakthrough. 362
• Wood-attribute flying sword — A Tier 3 Low-grade sword personally refined by Zhou Yang to match her spiritual root and mana. 187
• Third-tier defensive artifacts inherited from her master — Given to Zhou Yang when he lacked suitable defenses, believing they would better protect him and, by extension, herself. 183

Relationships

• Zhou Yang — Savior, Dao Companion, and husband. He saved her from Tian Feng, recruited her into the Zhou Family, supported her alchemy and cultivation, and remained her principal protector. 180 181 202 362
• Unnamed Master — Her guardian and teacher on Dan Yun Peak. The master left her an alchemy inheritance, Spiritual Medicine, artifacts, and a mountain refuge; Xiao Ying later fulfilled the wish to return the master's ashes to their homeland. 181 183 201
• Tian Feng — Former senior brother and enemy. Expelled by their master for immoral conduct, he returned after the master's death to steal the inheritance and force Xiao Ying into becoming his Dao Companion. 180 181
• Ye Yunshan — Personal disciple. Xiao Ying valued Ye Yunshan's talent in Spirit Planting and her compatible personality, accepting her as a personal disciple after reaching Golden Core. 592 593
• Zhou Guangcheng — Her son with Zhou Yang. She hopes he grows into an honest and dependable person like his father. 618 621
• Zhou Xuanyu — Mother-in-law by Xiao Ying's own acceptance; their relationship helped deepen Xiao Ying and Zhou Yang's bond. 230
• Zhou Xuanhao — Father-in-law and fellow alchemist. Xiao Ying gave him her master's alchemy experience and five Third-tier pill recipes. 203
• Qin Yue'er — Treated by Xiao Ying as a sister, welcoming her warmly and later supporting her recovery and cultivation. 778 851
• Jiang Fengxian — Zhou Yang's other Dao Companion. Xiao Ying accepted her as “Sister Fengxian,” though their first meeting was understandably delicate. 675

Story Role / Major Arcs

Dan Yun Peak Rescue

Xiao Ying enters the story as the isolated heir of Dan Yun Peak, besieged by Tian Feng and his accomplices after her master's death. Zhou Yang's intervention saves her, but his poisoning forces her to care for him and begins their relationship. 180 181

Joining the Zhou Family

She agrees to become a Zhou Family guest elder and accompany Zhou Yang after he promises to respect her refusal to fight and help return her master's ashes home. She becomes Zhou Yang's Dao Companion after arriving in the Boundless Sea of Sand. 183 202

Alchemy Advancement and Violet Palace

With Zhou Yang's support and the Xuan Yang Immortal Sect's resources, Xiao Ying converts to the True Scripture of Qinghua's Tribulation Crossing, advances to Third-tier Alchemist, reaches peak Foundation Establishment, and opens her Violet Palace. 194 361 362

Chongxuan Mountain

At Chongxuan Mountain, Xiao Ying teaches registered disciples, earns their loyalty through patience and kindness, forms her Golden Core, and begins taking personal disciples. Her healing arts become essential during the mountain's defense and later wartime campaigns. 586 588 593 602 606

Nascent Soul Formation

After preparing her Dao heart with a heart-refining secret art, Xiao Ying successfully forms her Nascent Soul on Huohua Mountain. Her advancement gives Zhou Yang lasting relief that they can continue their long life together without the immediate threat of her dying from old age. 765 767

Long-Term Cultivation

Xiao Ying later uses Wood-based dormant cultivation within a giant tree, gaining mana and cultivation through passive absorption of external life force. After nearly four hundred years in dormancy, she awakens and reunites with Zhou Yang and Qin Yue'er. 868 874

Notable Quotes

“Besides my fondness for alchemy and planting herbs, I have no interest in fighting or killing.” 183

“In this life, I only wish to grow old with my husband and share life and death together!” 475